Karen Yellowlees

About me

I am a qualified counsellor working with people who have experienced challenges in life that have led to feeling stuck, sad, worried, perhaps hopeless. I work with adults of all ages, as well as young people from age 11 years. When difficult and unexpected events happen, when traumatic events occur or someone close dies, when relationships go wrong, then counselling can be a way of feeling supported to move forward in our lives. In short, we can at different times feel lost in our lives- counselling can attempt to relocate the personal map and compass required to navigate and travel to a safer, healthier and more healed way of being.

I firmly believe that the therapeutic relationship is the most important part of the counselling process. That through offering counselling with acceptance, warmth, genuineness and empathy that a trusting and safe space is able to be created which in turn may enable and contribute to new insights and self knowledge being acquired.

I receive regular clinical supervision from an experienced and accredited supervisor and this is fundamental and essential to my practice.

Training, qualifications & experience

I am a Registered Member of BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and abide by their ethical standards and code of practice.

I am a qualified counsellor and hold a post graduate Diploma in Counselling Studies. I am currently employed within a voluntary organisation and provide counselling to young people up to the age of 18 years. In addition I provide counselling in my private practice as well as on a freelance basis within a local voluntary organisation. My counselling training has been primarily person -centred, and I have always felt most comfortable and 'at home' when working with this approach- however my practice is also influenced by other models and theories of counselling, and these can at times be usefully integrated where this feels right and helpful.

During all of my working life I have been involved in supporting people with complex difficulties associated with life transitions, family relationships and functioning, bereavement, trauma and loss. I have extensive experience of working with clients whose lives have been adversely impacted through substance misuse, domestic violence and imprisonment. I work with clients experiencing depression and anxiety, and who struggle with use of self harm and suicide ideation.

Therapies offered

Fees

The fee is £35 per session; length of session 50 minutes.

Following an initial telephone discussion I offer the first session at a reduced fee of £25, and this provides the opportunity for us to meet and for you to find out more about counselling and what you would hope to get from coming to counselling. If you decide to go ahead then we can make a plan to review after a set number of sessions, and to decide also if a shorter term or a more open ended arrangement will be what you would want or prefer.